Kotri, May 05, 2022 (PPI-OT):The decision of Pakistan Federation (PFB) Baseball to set up a training camp for the South Asian Games and Asian Games is a good step. In the first phase, the training camp for pitchers and Catchers will be started next week in Ajwa City Gujranwala which will be supervised by Ajwa City CEO Muhammad Tanveer while Head Coach Musaddiq Hanif, Coach Tariq Nadeem and Americans coach arriving in Pakistan on April 7, Mr. Randall Arms will provide coaching along with the training staff of PFB. This timely decision of the PFB President Syed Fakhar Ali Shah to set up camp is being appreciated in Baseball and sports circles.
In this regard Syed Fakhar Ali Shah said that in these championships our competitions are to be with the top teams of the world and we know that it will be a difficult situation. We want to bring the Pakistan team as a better team so that the name of the beloved homeland is bright and our players do not consider themselves inferior to anyone and the atmosphere of competition remains alive.
The federation had earlier in February requested the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to set up camp in Islamabad and was reminded last month when no response was received. In this regard, DG Pakistan Sports Board Col (retd) Asif Zaman assured to do start the camp soon. Because our competition is with the world’s top three ranking teams, namely Japan, Taiwan and Korea, where there are thousands of baseball stadiums as well as they have government, cooperative sector and public support. Japan is the World No. 1 as well as the Olympic champion while Korea started its preparations by launching the first baseball league after Covid19.
We know that we are a developing country but we have immense potential and talent that is why PFB wants Pakistan team to be able to compete with these teams. Therefore, keeping in mind “Don’t be late more”, Syed Fakhar Ali Shah has signed an agreement with the American coach and has decided to set up camp in Gujranwala on his own. He said that the camp would be shifted to Islamabad when the PSB would give the signal to start it officially as PFB demanded.
It may be recalled that Pakistan is at No. 5 in the Asian rankings and 31st in the world rankings while most of the Gold Medallists or Silver Medallists remain in the West Asian Championships, there should be 1-1 baseball stadiums in the provincial capitals and at least 1-1 baseball grounds in their major divisions in Pakistan which should be regularly sponsored at the government level under the supervision of Pakistan Federation Baseball so that we improve our ranking more and further improvements in the skills.
Apart from the government, various sponsors and civil society and sports personalities should also pay attention to the game of baseball keeping in view the past performance and rank of Pakistan so that the mission of the late Syed Khawar Shah, the founder of this game in Pakistan, may be further achieved and to Keep moving forward.
For more information, contact:
Pakistan Federation Baseball
Punjab Stadium, Ferozepur Road,
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel. +92-42-353-41121
Fax + 92-42-357-11828
E-mail: pakistanfederationbaseball@hotmail.com